Control system



Dec. 13, 1938. A. 3v GRANT 2,140,473

CONTROL SYSTEM Filed July 22, 193? 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ivzverztor 25 1 Artfiur G. Grav'zt Dec. 13, 1938. A. c. GRANT 2,140,473

CONTROL SYSTEM Filed July 22, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm mm 3mm Grani- Arthur L.

Patented 13, 193% anal drill 1 ID. Grant, St. Fault, a... assigno ltegul Comp 3 9 lUlaims.

The present invention relates to improved automatic control system having particular utility in connection. with the control of heating devices but also having utility for controlling any ill condition or force changing device. ihis invention an improvement over application Serial No. 25,956, filed by Carl Kronmiller on June 22,

Que or the objects of the invention is the provision of a control system in which a condition or force changing device is operated under the con trol of mechanism actuated in response to changes in the value of a condition or force, preferably produced directly by the condition or force changing device, as distinguished from mochanisro which responds to actual values of the condition or force, when some other condition or force is such as normally to require operation of the condition or force changing device.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an electrical system of automatic control including a condition or force responsive element which closes first and second switches upon a fall in a condition or force to predetermined values, one of said switches being closed for intermediate values of said condition. or force, the arrangement being such that a condition or force changing device is operated at maximum capacity upon closure of both oi said switches, and is operated at minimum capacity upon open ng of both of said switches, and there being other means "responsive to changes in effectiveness of the condition or force changing device or responsive to changes in some condition or force produced by a condition or force changing device for control-- ling the condition or force changing device when one of said switches is closed.

Uther objects and advantages will. become ap= parent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims and drawings, in which drawings:

l is a schematic showing on one form of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of one form of a our r rent controlling mechanism which may be used in the system of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is'a front view of the current controlling mechanism of Fig. 2 with the cover removed.

Fig. 4.- is a diagrammatic showing of a modified form of the invention.

Referring first to Fig. l. of the drawings, a condition or force changing device is herein diagrammatically shown as comprising an electrically operateo'. valve generally indicated at iii which may control the how of gas to a fired hot water boiler.

vie s;

or warm air furnace. The valve it is controlled by a condition. or force responsive device herein shown as a room thermostat generally indicated at it. The valve is further controlled by a device generally indicated at l? which responds to changes in a condition or force produced by the condition or force changing device ill or responds to changes in the effectiveness of this condition or force changing device as distill guished from one that responds to the actual val ues of such condition or force or effectiveness thereof.

The electrically operated valve it includes a valve casing it (only partially shown herein) which is provided with the usual valve opening it that is adapted to be closed by a valve disc ll. The valve disc W is carried by a valve stem it which is pivoted to a lever it by means of a bracket Lever lil is pivoted at a point indi cated at iii. The valve disc ii is biased to closed I position bya spring 22. The valve disc ll is adapted to be moved to open position against the bias of spring by means of a motor comprising a pair of field windings 2t and 23 which op erate a motor rotor 25 mounted upon a rotor shaft 36. A pinion 2?], which is carried by rotor shaft 26, is adapted to drive a main gear 28 through suitable reduction gearing generally indicated at 29. The main gear 2&3 carries a crank pin to which, upon clockwise rotation of main gear is adapted to engage the hooked end 35 of a link which is pivoted to lever it at a point indicated at The main gear is secured to a shaft 3 3 which also carries an operator 35. Upon clockwise rotation of main gear 2"", the operator engages and lifts an assembly as which includes a balancing contact finger 3'11 that is adapted to engage a balancing resistance The initial upward movement of assembly 38 allows a limit switch 3% to move to closed position, and when the valve has been moved to full open position, the assembly 3% opens a similar limit switch Ml. The under side of balancing resistance to is engaged by an adjustable contact finger ll which, in the present showing of the iiivention, is engaging the mid-portion of balancing resistance 38. The balancing contact finger ill when moved downwardly, is adapted to ride upon a cam surface 522 formed on an adjustable bracket 33 by means of which the balancing contact finger 59 ill is lifted off of the balancing resistance 38. With the parts adjusted as shown, the balancing contact finger 3i cannot engage the lower quarter of balancing resistance 33.

The valve ill is controlled by a balanced relay 55 mechanism comprising a pair of solenoid windings 45 and 46 which are of equal power and control a plunger 41. Plunger 41 is connected to a relatively stiff switch arm 48 through a coiled spring 49. This relatively stiff switch arm 48 and the flexible switch arm 50 are secured to a bracket i which is pivoted at 52. The flexible switch arm 58 is adapted to engage a contact 53 whenever plunger 41 is in its central position by reason of solenoid windings 45 and 46 being equally or substantially equally energized. When solenoid winding 45 is the more highly energized, then the plunger 41 moves to the left to a further degree and brings stiff switch arm 48 into engagement with contact 54. Similarly, when solenoid winding 46 is the more highly energized, then plunger 41 moves to the right of the position shown in the drawings, and flexible switch arm 58 disengages contact 53.

The valve it! also includes a recycling switching mechanism comprising two pairs of cooperating switch arms indicated at 55 and 56. These pairs of switch arms are adapted to be moved to closed circuit position upon manipulation of a manually operable member 51 which at the same time is operable to hold the valve disc I 1 in a partial open position after having been manually moved thereto upon the occurrence of a power failure, as is well known in the art. For further details of the construction of valve l0 and its general operation, reference may be had to the copending application of Lewis L. Cunningham, Serial No. 697,686 which was filed November 11, 1933.

The room thermostat H comprises a coiled bimetallic element 50 carrying blades GI and 82. The blades GI and 62 are adapted to sequentially engage contacts 63 and 64 since the distance between blade 6i and contact 63 is less than the distance between blade 62 and the contact 84. Upon a rise in room temperature the bimetallic element 60 moves the blades 6| and 82 to the right, and upon a decrease in room temperature the blades are moved to the left, and for purposes of illustration the blade BI is adapted to engage the contact 63 at a room temperature corresponding to say 72, and the blade 52 is adapted to engage the contact 64 at a room temperature corresponding to, say 70.

Turning now to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the mechanism l2 comprises a casing 65 which is provided with a circular opening in its rear wall. A plug member 56, having a longitudinal opening therethrough is rigidly secured against rotation in the rear wall of the casing 55. Mounted on the plug 66 is a tubular member 61 and mounted on the tubular member 61 is a screw threaded mounting sleeve 68. The mounting sleeve 68 and the tubular member 81 are held rigid with the plug 66 by means of a screw 69. Rigidly secured to the plug 86, as by soldering, is a tubular member 10, having downturned portions 1i and 12. The outer extremity of the tubular member 18 is secured to a spacer 13 which coacts with the tubular member 61 to support the outer end of the tubular member 10. The open end of the tubular member 51 is closed by a cap 14 secured thereto as by soldering. A bimetallic coil 15 surrounds the tubular member and one end thereof is secured to the tubular member 10 and the other end is secured to a collar 16 rigidly mounted on a torsion rod 11. The torsion rod 11 extends through an opening in the downturned portion 1|. The end 01' the torsion rod 11 abuts against the downturned portion 12 and the collar 16 is adapted to abut against the downturned portion 1|, thereby limiting longitudinal movement of the torsion rod 11. The torsion rod 11 extends through the plug 56 and terminates within the casing 55.

Rigidly secured to the torsion rod 11 by means of a screw 19 is a collar member 18 so that upon rotation of the torsion rod 11, the collar 18 is rotated. Also located on the torsion rod 11 and spaced from the collar 18 is another collar 88 which is rigidly secured to the torsion rod 11 by a screw 8i. Located between the two collars 18 and 80 are a lever 82, a friction washer 83, a spring holder 84 and a spring 85. The spring 85 abuts against the collar 18 to frictionally engage the lever 82 between the friction washer 83 and collar 80. Therefore, when the torsion rod 11 is rotated, the lever 82 is likewise rotated but if rotation of the lever 82 is stopped, the torsion rod 11 may rotate with respect thereto. The collar 18 carries a lever 85 upon which is mounted a mercury tube high limit switch 88 by means of a mercury tube clip 81.

Secured to the lever 82 by means of screws 90 but insulated therefrom is an arm 89 which carries a slider or contact finger 8|. The slider 9! is adapted to engage and slide across a resistance coil 82 mounted on a spool 93. The spool 93 is mounted by means of a screw 94 to a support 85 which is in turn secured to the rear wall of casing 65 by means of screws 86. The support 85 also carries adjustable stops 91 which are adapted to be engaged by the lever 82.

In operation, the bimetallic helix is adapted to be subjected to some heater condition such, for instance, as the temperature of the hot water in a hot water boiler. It will be noted that the lever 85 and consequently the mercury tube switch 88 are directly secured to the torsion rod 11 and move in conformity therewith so that when a predetermined high temperature afiects the bimetallic helix 15 to rotate the torsion rod 11 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, the mercury switch 88 is moved to open contact position. Therefore, the mercury switch 88 is adapted to perform a high limit function as will be set out more fully hereafter. As viewed in Fig. 1, the contact finger or slider Si is located midway of the resistance coil 82 and upon an increase in temperature affecting the bimetallic helix 15, the slider BI is moved to the right and upon a decrease in temperature, the slider Si is moved to the left. If the temperature affecting the bimetallic helix 15 increases more than a predetermined amount, the lever 82 abuts against the adjustable stop 91 to prevent further counterclockwise movement thereof and to cause slipping between the torsion rod 11 and the lever 92, which position is shown in Fig. 3. Likewise, if the temperature affecting the bimetallic helix 15 decreases more than a predetermined amount, the lever 82 abuts the other adjustable stop 91 and the torsion rod 11 moves with respect to the lever 82. From this it follows that a predetermined diiferential in temperature is required to move the slider 9| across the resistance coil 92 but due to the slip friction connection between the lever 82 and the torsion rod 11, the differential in temperature may occur at any temperature value. Therefore, the slider 8! is moved in response to changes in a condition or force and not in response to the actual value of the condition itself. However, the mercury switch 88 is moved in response to the actual value 01' the condition.

Referring specifically to Fig. 3, the lever 82 is provided with upwardly and outwardly extending abutments 98 and 99. Located adjacent to these abutments 98 and 99 are two bimetallic elements I00 and IOI respectively which are secured to plugs I04 by means of screws I05. The screws I05 also secure the plugs I04 to brackets I06 which are secured to and spaced from the top wall of casing 65 by means of screws I01 and spacers I08. Also mounted on the plugs I04 by means of screws I I I are bimetallic elements I09 and II 0. The outer ends of these bimetallic elements'I09 and H0 are secured to adjustable anchors I I2. Electric heaters I02 and I03 are positioned adjacent to or around the bimetallic elements I00 and II respectively. When the heater I 02 is deenergized the bimetallic element I00 assumes its normal position to engage the abutment 98 to maintain the slider or contact finger 9I at its extreme right hand position with respect to the resistance coil 92 as shown in Fig. 3. When the heater I02 is energized the bimetallic element I00 is flexed to the left to disengage the abutment 98 to permit movement of the contact finger 9I along the resistance coil 92'. This latter position of the bimetallic element I 00 caused by energization of the heater I02 is shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The bimetallic element IOI assumes the position shown in Fig. 3 when the heater I03 is deenergized. This position allows unrestricted movement of the slider or contact finger 9I with respect to resistancecoil 92. Upon energization of the heater I03 the bimetallic element I M flexes to engage the abutment 99 to move the slider or contact finger 9I to the left hand extremity of the resistance coil 92. From the above it is seen that when the heater I02 is energized and the heater I03 is deenergized, the slider 9! is allowed to be positioned along the resistance coil 92, that when the heater I02 is deenergized the slider 9I is held in the extreme right hand position, and that when the heater I 03 is energized the slider 9I is held in the extreme right hand position.

Referring now to Fig. 1, line wires leading from some source of power, not shown, are designated at I22 and I23. A primary I24 of a step-down transformer I26, having a secondary I25 is connected across the line wires I22 and I23. One end of the secondary I25 is connected to one of the electrodes of high limit switch 88 by means of i a wire I21. The other electrode of high limit switch 08 is connected by wires I28, I29, I and I-3I to one end of each of field windings 23 and 24. The other side of the secondary I25 is connected to the recycling switches 55 and 50 by means of wires I32 and I33. These recycling switches 55 and 58 are also connected to the other end of secondary windings 23 and 24 by means of wires tilt and I35. This same end of the field winding 23 is connected to contact 54 through the limit switch by means of wires I36 and I31 and the same end of field winding 24 is connected to contact 53 through the limit switch 39 by means of wires I38 and I39. One side of secondary I25 is also connected to one end of the solenoid coil 46 by means of wire I21, high limit switch 88, wire I28, and wire I40, while the other side of the secondary I25 is connected to one end of solenoid winding by wires I32 and HI. The junction of solenoid windings 45 and 46 is connected to the I balancing contact finger 31 and to the slider or contact finger 9i by means of wires I42, I43 and I44. The switch arms 48 and 50 are connected to a small number of turns of solenoid winding 25 by a wire I5I. One end of solenoid winding 45 is connected to one end of the balancing resistance 38 and one end of the potentiometer coil 92 through a protective resistance I52 by means of wires I53, I54 and I55.. Similarly, one end of solenoid winding 46 is connected to the other end of balancing resistance 38 and the other end of potentiometer coil 92 through a protective resistance I58 by means of wires I59, I60 and IN. Bracket 43 is connected to contact finger 4| by means of wire I63.

A primary I of a step-down transformer I66, having a secondary I61 is connected across the line wires I22 and I23. One end'of secondary I61 is connected to one end each of the electric heaters I02 and I03 by means of wires I68, I69 and I18. The other end of the electric heater I02 is connected by a wire I1I to the contact 63 and the other end of the electric heater I03 is connected by a wire I12 to the contact 64. The bimetallic element 60 of the thermostat II is connected by a wire I13 to the other end of secondary I61. i i

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, the room temperature is intermediate 70 and 72 since the contact blade BI is in engagement with its contact 63, and the blade 62 is out of engagement with its contact 64, which permits free movement of the slider or contact finger SI by the bimetallic element 15 of the controller I2. The boiler temperature is likewise intermediate and the contact finger or slider 9A is shown engaged with the mid portion of the resistance coil 92. As a result, the balancing contact finger 31 is engaged with the mid portion of balancing resistance 38 and the solenoid windings 45 and #6 are substantially equally energized so that flexible switch arm 50 is engaged with contact 53. The valve is therefore half open and is held in half open position by reason of energization of field winding 24, the circuit for which is as follows:

secondary I25 of transformer I26, wire I21, meri cury switch 88, wire I28, wire I29, wire I3I, field winding 24, wire I38, limit switch 39, wire I39, contact 53, flexible switch arm 50, wire I5I, a small number of turns of solenoid winding 45,

wire MI and wire I32 back to the secondary I25. i

The fiow of current through the small number of turns of solenoid winding 45, upon engagement of flexible switch arm 50 with contact 53, increases the contact pressure between the flexible switch arm 50 and the contact 53 as will become apparent hereinafter. It should be pointed out here that the two field windings 23 and 24 operate rotor 25 in the same direction wherein one of these field windings when energized is capable of holding valve disc I1 in any position to which it is moved against its biasing spring 22 and the energization of both of these field windings at the same time is sufiicient to lift the valve disc l1 against the bias of spring 22.

As long as the room temperature remains in termediate 70 and 72, small fluctuations in boiler temperature will result in movement of the contact finger or slider 9| along resistance coil Assuming there is a slight fall in boiler temperature so that the contact finger 9i moves along resistance coil 92 toward the left hand end thereof, the voltage drop across solenoid winding 45 will be increased and the voltage drop across solenoid winding 46 will be decreased whereupon plunger 41 will move further to the left flexing switch arm 50 and bringing switch arm 48 into engagement with contact 54. Field winding 23 will then be energized as follows: secondary I25, wire I21, high limit switch 88, wire I28, wire I29,

wire I30, field winding 23, wire I36, limit switch 4E2, wire i32 contact 53, switch arm 88, wire ltl, a small number of turns of solenoid winding 45, wire I45, and wire I32 back to the secondary Hi5. This second circuit through the small number of turns of solenoid winding 45 will increase the contact pressure between switch arm 48 and contact -5. Energization of field winding 23 will cause rotation of motor rotor 25 in such direction as to rotate main gear 28 in a clockwise direction to raise further the valve disc ll, it being remembered that field winding 24 is still energized. Such clockwise rotation of main gear 28 also moves balancing contact finger 3T upwardly along balancing resistance 38 andthis movement continues until such time as the voltage drop across solenoids 45 and 46 are again substantially equalized whereupon plunger 41' will return to the position shown in Fig. i of the drawings wherein switch arm 48 is disengaged from contact finger 54 but flexible switch arm 50 is engaged with contact 53. The field winding 23 is thereby deenergized but the field winding 24 remains energized. As heretofore explained, this single field winding is not sufiicient to raise the valve so the opening movement of the valve ceases but this energization of field winding 24 maintains the valve in its new position. In the event the boiler temperature continues falling until contact finger 9i reaches the left hand end of resistance coil 92, then the valve disc I! will open fully, the assembly 35 will engage the upper arm of limit switch 40 and open the same to deenergize field winding 23 whereby the valve will be held in its full open position by the energization of field winding 24.

Whenever the boiler temperature rises, the contact finger 9i will move along resistance coil 92 toward the right hand end thereof, thereby increasing the voltage drop across solenoid winding 45 and decreasing the voltage drop across solenoid winding 45. Under these conditions, flexible switch arm 5c is moved from engagement with contact 53 whereupon field winding 24 is deenergized as well as field winding 23. The valve disc I! is therefore moved towards closed positlon under the bias of spring 22. At the same time, counter-clockwise rotation of the actuator 35 allows balancing contact finger 35 to move downwardly along balancing resistance 38 until a point is reached wherein the voltage drops across solenoid windings 45 and ii; are again equal and flexible switch arm 55 is moved into engagement with contact 53. when this occurs, the field winding 25. is again energized to prevent further closing movement or the valve under the its spring 22. Also, the resulting current fiov hrough the small number of turns of solehold by the circuit heretofore described and increases the contact pressure between flexible switch arm contact 53 to prevent chattering of the contacts.

its the boiler temperature continues to drop, this action will be repeated until the contact finger rides up the cam surface 52 at which balancing contact finger S'l will be moved from en agement with the balancing resistance 33. tlhen this occurs, the balancing contact Si is electrically connected to the center of balancing resistance "C M and wire 963. Inasmuch as the contact fingel" is near the right hand end of resistance coil S2 at this time which would require movement of balancing finger 3'! near the lower end of balancing resistance 35 to rebalance the energizations of solenoid windings t3- and 45, it

will be impossible to rebalance these energize.-

by the contact finger tions whereby flexible switch arm 50 will remain disengaged from contact 53 and the valve will move to fully closed position. In this man ner, when the valve reaches some minimum position during closing movement the valve completels closes, thereby eliminating danger of a pop-back into the furnace by reason of the burners being unable to handle such a small flow of gas. Movement of the valve to its fully closed position under the bias of spring 22 imparts sufiicient momentum to the main gear 28, the motor rotor 25 and the gear reduction 29 to cause these parts to rotate a small amount after the valve disc I! becomes seated wherefore the crank pin 30 moves a small distance away from the hooked end 3! of the link 52. Also, the assembly 36 moves the lower arm of limit switch 35 and opens the same thereby preventing energization of field winding 24.

Now if the boiler temperature again rises so that the contact finger 91 moves along resistance coil 92 towards the left hand end thereof, solenoid winding 45 will remain more highly energized than solenoid winding 45 until the contact finger 95 reaches the middle of resistance coil 92. This is because balancing contact finger 31 is now electrically connected to the center of balancing resistance 59 by the contact finger 4i and wire I63. When the contact finger 9i reaches the middle of resistance coil 92 so that the solenoids 45 and 45 are equally energized, fiexible switch arm 50 will be moved into engagement with contact 53 but field winding 24 will not be energized since limit switch 99 is opened. Upon movement of contactfinger 9| past the center of resistance coil 92 toward the left hand end thereof due to further lowering of the boiler temperature, the voltage drop across solenoid winding 45 will become larger than the voltage drop across solenoid winding 46 whereupon. switch arm 45 moves into engagement with contact 54 and energizes field winding 29 in the manner heretofore described. This energization of field winding 23 will be sufilcient to rotate main gear 28 in a clockwise direction and bring crank pin 30 into engagement with hooked link 33 since during this time there is substantially no load upon the motor. Such movement of. main gear 28 lifts assembly 35 a slight amount through actuator 35 so that limit switch 39 closes whereupon field winding 24 is also energized. The energization of field windings 23 and 24 continues rotation of main gear 28 whereupon valve disc i! is raised against the resistance of its spring 22. The valve will therefore be raised to a little more than half open position in order to bring balancing contact flnger 33' slightly past the center portion of balancing resistance 38 in order to rebalance the voltage drops across solenoid windings 45 and 45 so as to disengage switch arm 48 from contact finger 56 in the manner heretofore described. During this upward movement of balancing contact finger 31, it rides off the cam surface 42 whereupon the contact finger 4i and wire I53 no longer electrically connect balancing contact finger 3! to the mid portion of balancing resistance 38. It will therefore be noted that when the valve is closed, it can only be open when the demand for heat is sufficiently great as to result in a relatively large opening of the valve. In this manner, a relatively large initial fiow of gas is supplied to the burner so as to prevent a flare-back into the mixer. The amount of initial opening can be varied by varying the position of contact finger 4| along balancing resistance 38.

From the above it will be seen that whenever the room temperature is intermediate, the contact finger 9| and its associated resistance coil 92 will modulate the position or the valve. disc II to maintain the boiler temperature at whatever value it may happen to be. This is permitted by reason of the blade GI engaging its contact 93 when the room temperature is intermediate to complete a circuit from the secondary I91 through wire I13, bimetallic element 99, blade 9|, contact 63, wire "I, heater I92, wire I69, and wire I99 back to the secondary I61. This circuit maintains the heater I92 energized to maintain the bimetallic element I99 out of engagement with the abutment 98. Now if the room temperature should rise above 72, the blade SI is moved out of engagement with the contact 63 to break the above circuit and deenergize the heater I92. Deenergization of the heater I92 causes the bimetallic element I99 to engage the abutment 99 to move the slider or contact finger M to the extreme right hand end of the resistance coil 92, which position is shown in Fig. 3. Movement of the contact finger 9i to the right hand end of the resistance coil 92 short circuits the solenoid winding 45, whereby the flexible switch arm 59 (iii is moved out of engagement with the contact 59 to deenergize the field windings 23 and 24 to permit the spring 22 to close the valve disc H. In this manner a rise in room temperature to or above 72 causes positive closing movement of the valve disc I1 and prevents the further supply of heat to the room. When the room temperature again decreases to a value less than 72 as a result of stopping the supply of heat to the room, the thermostat I I assumes the position shown in Fig. 1 to energize the electric heater I92 to cause the bimetallic element I99 to disengage the abutment 98. Due to the fact that the room thermostat II has shut off the supply of heat to the boiler, the boiler temperature will drop and as the boiler temperature so drops the contact finger 9I is 1 moved towards the left across the resistance coil 92. beyond the mid position of the resistance coil 92 in -a manner described hereabove, the solenoid winding 45 is energized more than the solenoid winding 46 to move the switch arms 49 and 99 to engagement with the contacts 54 and 99 to energize the field windings 23 and 24 to lift the valve disc II from its seat and thereby supply fuel to the boiler. The valve I! will then remain under the control of instrument I2 to maintain the boiler temperature at the value at which the room thermostat It was satisfied. By reason of the control of the boiler by the instrument I2 in this manner to maintain the temperature oi the boiler at this new value, the room temperature will be maintained between 70 and 72".

If the room temperature should fall below 79, the bimetallic element 69 moves the blade 62 into engagement with the contact 94, the blade GI already engaging its contact 63. Movement of the blade '62 into engagement with its contact 94 completes a circuit from the secondary I81 through wire I73, bimetallic element 99, blade 92,

contact 64, wire I12, heater I93, wire I19 and I93 to flex the bimetallic element 'I9I into engagement with the abutment 99 to move the slider or contact finger 9| to the extreme left hand end of the resistance coil \92. This extreme left When the contact finger 9| has moved Just hand movement of the contact finger 9| is permitted by reason or the iact that the heater I92 is energized to maintain the bimetallic element I99 out oi engagement with the-abutment 98. Movement of the contact finger 9I to the left hand end of the resistance coil 92 causes short circuiting of the solenoid winding 46 to move the switch arms 48 and 59 into engagement with the contacts 54 and 53. This causes energization of both field windings 23 and 24 in the manner above described, to completely open the valve disc II; Complete opening of the valve disc ll raises the temperature of the boiler and supplies more heat to the room. When the temperature of the room has risen above 70 by reason of this additional supply of heat, the blade 62 moves out of engagement with the contact 64, to deenergize the heater I93 tomove the bimetallic element I9! out oi engagement with the abutment 99. After the room thermostat has thus been satisfied, the boiler temperature will continue to rise and move the contact finger from its left hand position toward the right. Movement of the contact finger 98 towards the right increases the voltage drop across the solenoid winding 46 to move the switch arms 59 and 59 from engagement with the contacts 54 and 59 to deenergize the field windings 29 and 2% to move the valve disc I'I away from its full open position to an intermediate position to decrease the temperature of the boiler water. The vaive disc I? and therefore the temperature of the boiler is placed under the control of the instrument I2 and the boiler water temperature is maintained at substantially this new temperature value. In this manner the room temperature is maintained between 70 and 72.

If the temperature of the boiler should become excessive, then high limit mercury switch 88 is tilted to an oil position to break circuit to the valve motor and cause deenergization of the field windings 29 and 24 whereupon the spring 22 moves the valve disc II to a closed position until the temperature of the boiler decreases below the high limit value. When the temperature of the boiler decreases to normal, the mercury switch 99 is tilted to circuit making position and the normal mode of operation outlined above is continued.

From the above, it is seen that when the room temperature is below a predetermined value, the valve disc ii is opened to completely energize the boiler to supply heat to the room and that when the room temperature rises above a predetermined high value, the valve disc i'l is closed to deenerglze the boiler and prevent the further supply of heat to the room. It is also seen that when the room temperature is intermediate these two predetermined values, the valve is under the control of instrument i2 and responds to changes in the temperature of the boiler so that the boiler is maintained at a temperature which will maintain the room temperature between the predeter= mined room temperature values.

Referring now to Fig. 4, I have shown a modifled form oi my invention wherein the motor for operating a valve is intermittently energized and deenergized to intermittently open and close the valve instead of modulating the valve in the previous modification. In this modification, the instrument responding to changes in boiler temperature is identical with that in the previous 70 modification with the exception that the instrument operates open contact switches instead 0! a contact finger cooperating with, a resistance coil. The instrument responding to changes in w boiler temperature is also controlled by the room temperature in identically the same manner as in the previous modification.

Line wires H and I18, leading from some 5 source or" power, not shown, and the transformer I88 supplying energy to the heaters I82 and I 88 under the control of the room thermostat is connected'across these line wires. A relatively rigid blade I88 and a relatively flexible blade I at are connected to but insulated from the lever 82 operated in response to changes in boiler water temperature. The rigid blade I80 is adapted to engage a contact i 82 and the flexible blade I8I is adapted to engage a contact I83. The distance between the contact I83 and the flexible blade I8! is less than the distance between the .contact I82 and the flexible blade I80 so that upon a decrease in temperature, the contact I 83 is first engaged by its blade and then the contact I82 by its blade. A primary I86 of a step-down transformer i85 having a secondary I88 is connected across the line wires I and I16. A relay coil 81 controls the operation of switch arms I88 and I89 so that upon energization of the relay coil I8l, the switch arms I88 and I89 are moved into engagement with contacts I and I 92, respectively, and upon deenergizationof the relay coil 58?, the switch arms are moved out of engagement with their respective contacts 30 by means of gravity or springs or other means,

not shown. One end of the secondary I86 is connected by a wire 582 to the contact I83 and the contact I82 is connected by a wire I93 to one end of the relay coil 581. The other end of the relay coil I8? is connected by a wire 88 to the other end of secondary I88. The blades I 88 and I are connected. by a wire I95 to the contact I98 and the switch arm I88 cooperating with the contact tilt is connected by a wire I88 to the relay coil lfi'l. The switch arm I89 is connected by a wire it? to the line wire I 15 and the contact I9l cooperating with the switch arm nected by a wire 596 to a motor I99. The motor E99 is in turn connected by a wire 288 to the line wire lit. The motor I99 may operate a valve so that upon energization of the motor the valve is opened and upon deenergization thereof the valve is closed by means of a biasing means such as a spring. Such a motor-operated valve w is old in the art and a further description thereof is not considered necessary. The motor 299 may also operate an oil burner or a Stoker in the manner which is known in the art.

When the bot mperature decreases, the flexible switch a is moved into engagement the contact W3 and upon a iurther slight decrease in boiler temperature, the rigid switch arms 53% is moved into engagement with the contact to complete a circuit from the secondary 586 through wire I 82, contact i88, switch arm tilt, switch arm i188, contact i822, Wire 9953, relay coil and wire i94 back to the secondary Completion 01 this circuit causes energizaticn of relay coil i8! to move the switch arms and 589 into engagement with the contacts and till. Movement oi switch arm 288 into engagement with the contact i9; completes a holding circuit from the secondary lfifi through wire contact blade 5 9i, wire 6%, contact 28, switch arm wire i198, relay coil M1,

and r re to the secondary 586 to maintain the relay coil it energized until the boiler 'ature has increased a suillcient amount to contact between the contact 583 and the Z33 switch arm 3'85. Movement of switch arm I 89 (Iii I89 is con-' has absolute control,

into engagement with contact I 8i completes a circuit from the line wire I15 through wire I81, switch arm I88, contact I 8|, wire I88, motor I88 and wire 288 back to the line wire I18 to cause *energization of the motor I88 to open a valve or to operate an oil burner or a stoker. When the boiler temperature has risen a predetermined amount due to the operation or motor I89, the switch arms I88 and Ili are moved out of engagement with contacts I82 and III to deenergize the relay I81 to move the switch arm I89 out of engagement with the contact I8I to stop operation of the motor I88 and consequently stop operation of the oil burner or stoker or to cause closing of the valve. Therefore, when the room temperature is between 70 and 72, the motor I88 is intermittently operated to maintain the boiler water temperature at predetermined values.

As in the previous modification, as the room temperature rises above 72, the heater III is deenergized to cause the bimetallic element I" to engage the abutment 88 to open the switch contacts to deenergize thev relay I81 to close the fuel valve or stop operation of. the fuel burner or stoker. Likewise, when the room temperature decreases below 70, the heater I88 is energized to cause the bimetallic element IIII to engage the abutment 88 to close the switch contacts to energize the relay coil I81 to open the valve or cause operation of .the oil burner or stoker. In this manner when the room temperature is above a predetermined value, the further supply of heat to the room is prevented, and when the temperature is below another predetermined lower value, an additional supply of heat is supplied to the room. When the room temperature is between these two predetermined values the supply of heat to the room is maintained at a value which is sufficient to maintain the temperature in the room between these two values.

The high limit switch 88 is shown in this modiiication to be connected in the line wire I18 so that when an abnormally high temperature exists within the boiler, the supply of energy to the motor and the two transformers I88 and I88 is cut off to prevent operation of any portion oi the system.

In both systems it will be noted that the valve or motor broadly represents a condition or force changing device or temperature changing device, and that this condition or force changing device or temperature changing device is controlled by actual values of a condition (such as room temperatures) and by changes in some condition (such as boiler temperature) produced by the condition or force changing device or in accordance with changes in the output or capacity or eifectiveness oi the condition or force changing device. In the preferred system, the means which is responsive to changes in the condition or force or eifectiveness or capacity or output opcrate to modulate the action of the condition or force changing device. It will also be noted that the systems of the present invention are so arranged that a room thermostat having three positions, namely, a first position in which no con tacts are made, a second position in which one contact is made, and a third position in which both contacts are made, operates a mechanical mechanisrn which is correlated with another device operative upon changes in the condition or force rather than actual values thereof in such manner that for two of the room thermostat positions it and for the third position 7 the device responsive to changes in the condition or force takes control.

Many changes in the details of construction and wiring arrangements may of course be made by those skilled in the art and I therefore intend to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a system of the class described, in combination, a condition changing device for changing the value of a first condition which in turn changes the value of a second condition, mechanism responsive to changes in the value of the first condition irrespective of the actual value for controlling said condition changing device, and means responsive to the actual value of the second condition for affecting said mechanism to permit and prevent control of said condition changing means by said mechanism including switching means having two making positions and one breaking position, one of the making positions and the breaking position preventing and the other making position permitting control by said mechanism.

2. In a system of the class described, in combination, a condition changing device for changing the value of a first condition which in turn changes the value of a second condition, mechanism responsive to changes inthe value of the first condition irrespective of the actual value for controlling said condition changing device, and

means responsive to the actual value of the second condition for affecting said mechanism to permit and prevent control of said condition changing means by said mechanism including switching means movable from an open position which prevents control by said mechanism into successive closing positions upon a change in the condition in one direction to permit and prevent respectively control by said mechanism.

3. In a system of the class described, in combination, a condition changing device for changing the value or a first condition which in turn changes the value of a second condition, means responsive to changes in the value of the first condition irrespective of the value for controlling said condition changing device, mechanism associated with said means to prevent the same from controlling said control means, and means responsive to the second condition in control of said mechanism including switching means having two making positions one of said positions permitting and the other preventing control by said first mentioned means.

4. In a system of the class described, in combination, a condition changing device for changing the value of a first condition which in turn changes the value of a second condition, means responsive to changes in the value of the first condition irrespective of the value for controlling said condition changing device, mechanism associated with said means to prevent the same from controlling said control means, and means responsive to the second condition in control of said mechanism including switching means having two making positions and one breaking position, one of, the making positions and the break ing position preventing and the other making position permitting control by said first mentioned means.

5. In a system of the class described, in combination, a condition changing device for changing the value of a first condition which in turn changes the value of a second condition, means responsive to changes in the value 01 the first condition irrespective of the value for controlling said condition changing device, mechanism associated with said means to prevent the same from controlling said control means, and means responsive to the second condition in control of said mechanism including switching means movable from an open position into successive closing positions upon the change in the condition in one direction to prevent, permit and prevent respectively control by said first mentioned means.

6. In a system of the class described, in combination, a condition changing device, means re-' sponsive to changes in the value of a condition which is directly produced by said condition changing device, control means controlled by said means gradually to vary the effect of said condition changing device, to maintain said condition at its prevailing value, mechanism mechanically associated with said means to prevent the same from operating the control means to vary the effect of said condition changing device, and

means responsive to another condition in control of said mechanism including switching means having two making positions, one permitting and the other preventing control by said first men- 'tioned means.

7. A system of the class described, comprising, in combination, a condition changing device, a control member normally moved in accordance with changes in the value of a condition which is afiected by the condition changing device, connections between said control member and said condition changing device by which the former controls the latter, mechanism associated with said control member and operative to move the same to either of its extreme control positions and maintain it therein regardless of changes in the value of said condition, and switching means controlling said mechanism having two making positions and one breaking position, one of said making positions and the breaking position causing movement of the control member to its extreme positions.

8. In a system of the class described, a current controlling device operated in response to changes in the value of a condition having a movable member, means for maintaining said member in one position regardless of changes in the condition, means for moving said member to another position regardless of changes in the condition, switching means movable in one direction in reresponse to a change in another condition to prevent maintaining said member in one position by said first means whereby said member may be operated in response to changes in said first condition and to move said element to said other position by said second means. j

9. In a system of the class described, in combination, a condition changing device for changing the value of a first condition which in turn changes the value of a second condition, mechanism responsive to changes in the value of one of the conditions irrespective of the actual, value for controlling said condition changing device and means responsive to the actual value of the other condition for afiecting said mechanism to permit and prevent control of said condition changing means by said mechanism including switching means having two making positions and one breaking position, one of the making positions and the breaking position preventing and the other making position permitting control by said mechanism.

ARTHUR C. GRANT. 

